Artificial life is the goal pursued by cognitive philosophy， cognitive science， and artificial intelligence， yet its realization has consistently encountered challenge. The generative mechanisms of artificial life include self-organization， emergence， and agency， all of which are difficult to precisely grasp in the cognitive paradigm. Evolutionary biology demonstrates that natural life possesses extraordinary adaptability. For artificial artifacts， the way to endow them with life-like characteristics involves first transforming them into self-organizing systems with emergence， and then evolving them into embodied agents possessing agency and moral cognitive capacity. This process reveals the functional and informational properties of artificial life， manifesting its adaptive representational character.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of pinworm infections among kindergarten children and the effectiveness of health interventions among teachers and parents in Gaoyou City, so as to provide insights into optimization of enterobiasis control strategies. Methods From September to November each year from 2023 to 2025, Gaoyou City’s 57 kindergartens were divided into five zones based on the five cardinal directions: east, west, south, north, and center. At least one kindergarten was randomly selected as a survey site in each zone, with a minimum of 200 children surveyed per site. The transparent adhesive tape anal swab method was used to detect pinworm infection in the surveyed children, while the transparent adhesive tape sticking method was employed to assess pinworm egg contamination in the children’s home and classroom environments. Concurrently, health education interventions were conducted for kindergarten teachers and parents. Additionally, self-administered questionnaires were administered to teachers and parents to evaluate children’s hygiene behaviors and the awareness rates of pinworm prevention knowledge among teachers and parents before and after the health education interventions. Results From 2023 to 2025, a total of 1 939 children from nine kindergartens in Gaoyou City were tested for pinworm infection, with two cases detected, resulting in an overall infection rate of 0.10% (2/1 939). No pinworm eggs were found in the samples from the children’s families or classroom environments. In public kindergartens, the proportions of children practicing the four hygiene habits, namely “handwashing after defecation” [96.10% (1 305/1 358) vs. 74.65% (212/284); χ² = 153.646, P < 0.05], “regular nail trimming” [92.93% (1 262/1 358) vs. 77.82% (221/284); χ² = 61.349, P < 0.05], “not biting toys or pencils” [88.14% (1 197/1 358) vs. 76.76% (218/284); χ² = 25.549, P < 0.05], and “showering twice or more per week” [89.03% (1 209/1 358) vs. 74.65% (212/284); χ² = 41.699, P < 0.05], were all higher than those in private kindergartens. Before health education intervention, the awareness rates of pinworm prevention knowledge among teachers in public and private kindergartens were 86.89% (53/61) and 75.00% (21/28), respectively, with no statistically significant difference (χ² = 1.935, P > 0.05). The awareness rates among parents of children in public and private kindergartens were 64.73% (879/1 358) and 57.39% (163/284), respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (χ² = 5.447, P < 0.05). After the intervention, the awareness rates among teachers in public and private kindergartens increased to 96.72% (59/61) and 82.14% (23/28), respectively, while those among parents rose to 88.95% (1 208/1 358) and 77.81% (221/284), both with statistically significant differences (χ² = 5.628 and 25.808, both P < 0.05). Among the questionnaire items, teachers [32.58% (29/89)] and parents [26.00% (427/1 642)] had the lowest overall awareness rate regarding the “main reasons for the difficulty in preventing and controlling pinworm disease”. After the intervention, these rates increased to 77.53% (69/89) and 70.77% (1 162/1 642), respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of pinworm infection in kindergarten children in Gaoyou City is at a low level. Health intervention can effectively improve the knowledge level of teachers and parents on the prevention and treatment of pinworm disease, but further efforts are needed to strengthen the health education and management of pinworm disease in private kindergartens.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of Shenling baizhu san （SLBZS） in ameliorating ulcerative colitis （UC）. METHODS Mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， and low-， medium-， high-dose SLBZS groups （3， 6， 12 g/kg）， with 10 mice in each group. Except for the normal group， mice in other groups were given free access to 3% dextran sulfate sodium solution for 7 days to establish UC models. Simultaneously， mice in each group were intragastrically administered corresponding medicinal liquid or double-distilled water once a day for consecutive 7 days. After the last administration， the histopathological morphology of colon tissues was observed； the serum levels of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and IL-18 were detected； the total bile acid contents in liver， gallbladder and colon tissues were determined； the expression level of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 （NLRP3） in colon tissues was tested. The expression levels of flora metabolism-related proteins [G protein-coupled receptor 41（GPR41），GPR43，farnesoid X receptor （FXR）， G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 （TGR5）， flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 （FMO3）， cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily A member 1 （CYP27A1）， CYP7A1] in liver or colon tissues， as well as the proteins related to Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）/NLRP3 inflammatory axis [TLR4， NF-κB， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB）， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， caspase-1] in colon tissues were measured. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the colon tissue injury and inflammatory cell infiltration were alleviated in medium- and high-dose SLBZS groups. The serum levels of TNF-α， IL-1β and IL-18， total bile acid contents in liver and colon tissues， as well as the protein expression levels of FMO3 and CYP7A1 in liver tissues， TLR4， p-NF-κB， NF-κB， MyD88， NLRP3， ASC and caspase-1 in colon tissues were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Meanwhile， the total bile acid content in gallbladder， the protein expression levels of GPR41 and GPR43 in colon tissues， along with CYP27A1， FXR and TGR5 in liver tissues were significantly increased （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS SLBZS may relieve colonic inflammatory injury and ameliorate UC by regulating the expression of flora metabolism-related proteins and inhibiting the abnormal activation of TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammatory axis.

Objective: To explore the association of physical activity and sugar sweetened beverage consumption with psychological sub health among middle school students in Bao an District, Shenzhen, so as to provide a reference for adolescent mental health promotion. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted in November 2024 by a stratified cluster random sampling method to select 6 926 junior and senior middle school students from 5 middle schools in Shenzhen. The questionnaire from Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System was used to assess the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, and physical activity Rating Scale was used to assess the level of physical activity, and Brief Instrument on Psychological Health of Youths was used to evaluate the psychological sub health status. The Chi -square test was used to analyze the differences in the detection rates of psychological sub health among different groups of middle school students, and a multivariate Logistic regression model was established to analyze the effects of physical activity and sugar sweetened beverage consumption and their combined effects on the psychological sub health of middle school students. Results: The detection rate of psychological sub health among middle school students in Bao an District, Shenzhen was 18.93%. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, after controlling for confounding factors such as gender, school stage, family residence, family economic status, parental literacy, academic stress and number of friends, lack of physical activity or excessive sugar sweetened beverage consumption were associated with increased risks of psychological sub health among middle school students ( OR =1.36, 1.45); and the highest risk of psychological sub health was found in middle school students who were lack of physical activity and excessive sugar sweetened beverage consumption ( OR =2.59) ( P <0.01). Further analysis by school stages showed that junior high school students with sufficient physical activity and excessive intake of sugary drinks ( ROR =2.10), lack of physical activity and excessive intake of sugary drinks ( ROR =2.31) were at higher risks of psychological sub health than senior high school students( P <0.05). Conclusions Insufficient physical activity and excessive sugar sweetened beverage consumption are closely associated with an increased risk of psychological sub health among middle school students. Effective interventions should be targeted to reduce the risk of psychological sub health problems among middle school students.

Objective To investigate the impact of different lymph node dissection(RLNLN)around the recurrent laryngeal nerve(RLN)on the clinical efficacy of esophagectomy(EC)with thoracoscopic radical surgery.Methods Ninety-eight EC patients were selected from 2022-01 to 2022-10 in our hospital and divided into the control group and the study group,each with 49 cases,using simple randomization method.Both groups underwent EC thoracoscopic radical surgery,with conventional RLNLN clearance in the control group and modified RLNLN clearance in the study group.The operation and postoperative recovery of the two groups were compared,as well as myeloid triggered receptor-1(TREM-1),tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein-1(TRAP1),and complications before and after the operation,and the recurrence rate and survival rate of the two groups were counted at 1 year after the operation.Results The RLNLN dissection time in the study group was(11.93±3.57)minutes,which was shorter than that in the control group(17.15±4.28)minutes.The number of RLNLN dissections on both sides was(7.19±1.24),which was higher than that in the control group(5.56±1.10),and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).Three and seven days after surgery,the CD3+,CD4+/CD8+of the study group were higher than those of the control group,while CRP,PCT,TREM-1,and TRAP1 were lower than those of the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The postoperative complication and recurrence rates in the study group were 4.08％(2/49)and 10.87％(5/46),respectively,which were lower than the control group[18.37％(9/44),29.55％(13/44)].Conclusion Thoracoscopic radical resection of esophageal cancer with modified RLNLN dissection can can enhance the effect of lymph node clearance,down-regulate the expression of TREM-1 and TRAP1,reduce the inflammatory response of the body,regulate the immune function,reduce the risk of complications and recurrence,and improve the quality of life.

Tuberculosis remains a significant global public health threat.Early diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial to combat this disease.Yet,traditional diagnostic methods for tuberculosis face limitations due to their low sensitivity,extended detection periods,and dependence on sputum samples.Molecular diagnostic techniques,while offering higher sensitivity,still primarily rely on sputum samples,thereby impeding significant advancements in tuberculosis diagnosis.In clinical settings,there exists a pressing demand for diagnostic approaches that are not solely reliant on sputum samples.In recent years,extracellular vesicles(EVs),as emerging biomarkers,have demonstrated substantial potential in various diseases,including tumors and infectious diseases.A multitude of studies indicate that EVs also exhibit potential in the field of tuberculosis.This review provides an in-depth analysis of the biological characteristics of EVs and their role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.It systematically summarizes the progress and significance of EV-based biomarkers in tuberculosis diagnosis,treatment monitoring,and disease mechanism exploration,while addressing the challenges and future prospects in this field.The aim is to offer valuable insights and up-to-date research findings to researchers and clinicians engaged in tuberculosis-related studies.

Tuberculosis remains a significant global public health threat.Early diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial to combat this disease.Yet,traditional diagnostic methods for tuberculosis face limitations due to their low sensitivity,extended detection periods,and dependence on sputum samples.Molecular diagnostic techniques,while offering higher sensitivity,still primarily rely on sputum samples,thereby impeding significant advancements in tuberculosis diagnosis.In clinical settings,there exists a pressing demand for diagnostic approaches that are not solely reliant on sputum samples.In recent years,extracellular vesicles(EVs),as emerging biomarkers,have demonstrated substantial potential in various diseases,including tumors and infectious diseases.A multitude of studies indicate that EVs also exhibit potential in the field of tuberculosis.This review provides an in-depth analysis of the biological characteristics of EVs and their role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis.It systematically summarizes the progress and significance of EV-based biomarkers in tuberculosis diagnosis,treatment monitoring,and disease mechanism exploration,while addressing the challenges and future prospects in this field.The aim is to offer valuable insights and up-to-date research findings to researchers and clinicians engaged in tuberculosis-related studies.

Objective:To investigate microstructural alterations in the optic chiasm and optic radiations of multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) based on diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI).Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Retrospective analyses were conducted on the clinical and imaging data of 63 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and 62 patients with NMOSD diagnosed at First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2019 to December 2023. According to the occurrence of optic neuritis (ON), they were categorized into ON-positive MS (ON+MS) group (40 cases), ON-negative MS (ON-MS) group (23 cases), ON-positive NMOSD (ON+NMOSD) group (40 cases) and ON-negative NMOSD (ON-NMOSD) group (22 cases). In addition, 40 healthy controls were enrolled during the same period. DKI data of all subjects were collected, and DKI post-processing was performed to obtain fractional anisotropy (FA), mean kurtosis (MK), axial kurtosis (AK), and radial kurtosis (RK) values of the optic chiasm and bilateral optic radiations. The scores of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE), montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), and expanded disability status scale (EDSS) were obtained. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze the differences in DKI parameters of the optic chiasm and bilateral optic radiation among the 5 groups, and the Holm-Bonferroni method was employed for multiple comparison correction in pairwise comparisons.Results:There were statistically significant overall differences in the DKI parameters of the optic chiasm and bilateral optic radiations among healthy control group, ON+MS group, ON-MS group, ON+NMOSD group, and ON-NMOSD group (all P0.05). The FA value of the optic chiasm in ON+NMOSD group was significantly lower than that of healthy control group and ON-MS group, as well as ON-NMOSD group ( P0.05). The FA value of the left optic radiation in ON+NMOSD group was lower than that in healthy control group and the ON-MS group. The RK value of the optic chiasm in ON+MS group was lower than that in the healthy control group and ON-NMOSD group ( P0.05). The MK and RK values of the left optic radiation in ON-MS group were significantly lower than those in the ON+NMOSD group and ON-NMOSD group ( P0.05). Conclusions:NMOSD and RRMS patients demonstrate varying degrees of microstructural damage in the optic chiasm and optic radiations. Differences of DKI parameters suggest different pathological mechanisms of visual pathway damage between NMOSD and MS, which may be helpful for early detection of occult visual pathway lesions.

OBJECTIVE To explore the subtypes of human papillomavirus(HPV)infection and expressions of ser-um microribonucleic acid(miR)-21,cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)mRNA,human leukocyte antigen-G(HLA-G)and squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC-Ag)in the patients with high-grade cervical lesions.METHODS Totally 51 high-grade cervical lesions patients with HPV infection who were treated in Ganzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from Jan.2022 to Jan.2024 were randomly selected as the infection group,52 high-grade cervical lesions patients who did not have HPV infection were chosen as the no infection group,meanwhile,54 healthy people who received physical examination were assigned as the healthy group.The subtypes of HPV infections and the types of infections were observed.The levels of serum miR-21,COX-2 mRNA,HLA-G and SCC-Ag were com-pared among the groups.The values of the indexes in diagnosis of HPV infection in the patients with high-grade cervical lesions were analyzed.RESULTS Totally 75 case-times of HPV infections were detected in the infection group;the patients with HPV16 infection or HPV18 infection were dominant among the patients with single sub-type of HPV infection.The patients with mixed infections of HPV16,HPV52 and HPV58 were dominant among the patients with multiple subtypes of HPV infection.There were significant differences in the levels of serum miR-21,COX-2 mRNA,HLA-G and SCC-Ag among the infection group,the no infection group and the healthy group(P＜0.05);the levels of the four indexes of the infection group were higher than those of the no infection group and the healthy group(P＜0.05);the levels of the four indexes of the no infection group were higher than those of the healthy group(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)value of the joint detection of the four in-dexes was higher than that of the single detection in diagnosis of the HPV infection in the patients with high-grade cervical lesions(P＜0.05),the sensitivity of the joint detection was 92.16％,with the specificity 92.32％.CONCLUSIONS The HPV genotype HPV16 is most common among the high-grade cervical lesions patients with HPV infection and is dominant among the patients with single and multiple subtypes of HPV infections.The miR-21,COX-2 mRNA,HLA-G and SCC-A are associated with the high-grade cervical lesions and the high-grade cer-vical lesions with HPV infection.The patients show high expressions of the four indexes.The joint detection of the four indexes has high value in diagnosis of the HPV infection in the patients with high-grade cervical lesions.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between thyroid function and the total cerebral small vessel disease score in the elderly.Methods:This cross-sectional study included elderly people who underwent physical examinations at the Geriatrics Department of Beijing Hospital from April 2019 to December 2020. Participants were devided into 5 groups based on the total score of cerebral small vessel disease: 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. General clinical data were collected through physical examination reports and outpatient medical records. All participants underwent a 3T brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), scan and data were collected to calculate the total cerebral small vessel disease score. Fasting venous blood samples were taken in the morning to measure thyroid hormone levels. Relationships between thyroid hormone levels and lacunar infarcts, microbleeds, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), enlarged perivascular spaces, and total cerebral small vessel disease score were analyzed using Spearman correlation. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression was also used to analyze factors associated with total cerebral small vessel disease score.Results:A total of 545 elderly individuals were included, with a mean age of (75.16±9.18) years, and 505 (92.7%) were male. The number of subjects with a total cerebral small vessel disease score of 0 were 207 (38.0%), 1 were 182 (33.4%), 2 were 99 (18.2%), 3 were 41 (7.5%), and 4 were 16 (2.9%). Statistical significant differences were found in age, fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, triiodothyronine (TT3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and the proportion of hypertensive patients among the groups (all P<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis showed that TT3 ( r=-0.138, P=0.001) and FT3 ( r=-0.213, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with total cerebral small vessel disease score. Multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis revealed that age was independently and positively associated with total cerebral small vessel disease score ( OR=1.139, 95% CI: 1.087-1.193, P<0.001), while FT3 was independently and negatively associated with total cerebral small vessel disease score ( OR=0.331, 95% CI: 0.118-0.929, P=0.009). Conclusion:In the elderly population, FT3 levels are independently and negatively associated with total cerebral small vessel disease score.